Secondary batteries with treated bentonite cathodes

Abstract

Provided herein is an electrochemical cell for a secondary battery, which includes a positive electrode having an active intercalation cathode material of treated bentonite; a negative electrode material having an active anode material containing one of magnesium and sodium; an electrolyte positioned in contact with at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; wherein, when the active anode material contains magnesium, the electrolyte is a solid gel polymeric electrolyte; and wherein, when the active anode material is sodium, the electrolyte is a salt electrolyte, both the anode material and the electrolyte are molten at the operating temperature of the battery, and the cell further comprises a beta alumina solid electrolyte separator between the negative electrode and the electrolyte.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrochemical cell for a secondary battery, the electrochemical cell comprising:
 a positive electrode having an active intercalation cathode material with a reactive component, wherein the reactive component consists of treated bentonite, and wherein the treated bentonite has a broken molecular framework partially stripped of alkali and alkaline earth components; 
 a negative electrode having an active anode material comprising magnesium; and 
 an amorphous co-polymer electrolyte positioned in contact with at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the treated bentonite has greater rigidity from having been fired in a discharged state in an oven or kiln before being assembled in the electrochemical cell, such rigidity being greater than the rigidity of a comparable treated bentonite cathode not fired in an oven or kiln. 
     
     
       3. The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the active anode material is a magnesium/aluminum alloy. 
     
     
       4. The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is a solid gel polymeric electrolyte. 
     
     
       5. The electrochemical cell of  claim 4 , wherein the solid gel polymeric electrolyte comprises at least one phosphorous group. 
     
     
       6. An electrochemical cell for a secondary battery, the electrochemical cell comprising:
 a positive electrode having an active intercalation cathode material with a reactive component, wherein the reactive component consists of treated bentonite, and wherein the treated bentonite has a broken silica framework partially stripped of alkali and alkaline earth components; 
 a negative electrode having an active anode material comprising magnesium; and 
 an electrolyte positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electrolyte being a solid gel polymeric electrolyte possessing an amorphous structure. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrochemical cell of  claim 6 , wherein the active anode material is a magnesium/aluminum alloy. 
     
     
       8. The electrochemical cell of  claim 6 , wherein the solid gel polymeric electrolyte comprises at least one phosphorous group. 
     
     
       9. The electrochemical cell of  claim 6 , wherein the treated bentonite has greater rigidity from having been fired in a discharged state in an oven or kiln before being assembled in the electrochemical cell, such rigidity being greater than the rigidity of a comparable treated bentonite cathode not fired in an oven or kiln. 
     
     
       10. The electrochemical cell of  claim 6 , wherein the solid gel polymeric electrolyte comprises a magnesium salt or an organometallic compound in combination with a monomer, oligomer, or polymer having saturated alkyl or fluoroalkyl carbon links connecting alternating nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atoms through saturated alkyl or fluoroalkyl carbon spacers to at least one of an oxy-silicon group, an oxy-boron group, an oxy-aluminum group, and an oxy-phosphorous group, in which the phosphorous atom in the oxy-phosphorous group is either valence III or valence V.